Fluidic in-line particle immobilization and collection systems and methods for using the same

Abstract

Fluidic sorting systems configured to immobilize, and optionally concentrate and/or analyze, one or more particles within the system are provided. Aspects of the systems include a flow-through chamber and an immobilization component configured to immobilize, preferably reversibly, a particle within the flow-through chamber. Optionally, the systems include an analysis component configured to optically analyze an immobilized particle within the flow-through chamber. In certain aspects, the systems are configured to collect one or more particles from the flow-through chamber for subsequent analysis, experimentation, and/or use. Also provided are methods, components and kits for reversibly immobilizing, and optionally analyzing, one or more particles within a fluidic sorting system.

1 . A fluidic sorting system comprising:
 a flow-through chamber configured to receive a particle in a fluid stream from a catcher tube; and   a particle immobilization component configured to reversibly immobilize the particle within the flow-through chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the particle immobilization component comprises a magnetic field generator. 
     
     
         3 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises an electromagnet. 
     
     
         5 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an analysis component configured to analyze the immobilized particle within the flow-through chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 5 , wherein the analysis component comprises a microscope. 
     
     
         7 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 6 , wherein the microscope is selected from the group consisting of: a conventional microscope, a fluorescence microscope, a confocal microscope, and a laser scanning microscope. 
     
     
         8 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the particle is a cell. 
     
     
         9 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow-through chamber comprises a flow-through optical cuvette. 
     
     
         10 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises magnetically-labeled particles. 
     
     
         11 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a particle sorter configured to receive the particle from the flow-through chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The fluidic sorting system according to  claim 11 , wherein the particle sorter comprises a catcher tube configured to receive the particle from the flow-through chamber when the catcher tube is activated. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 (a) catching a particle flowing from an interrogation point in a fluidic sorting system;   (b) delivering the particle to a flow-through chamber; and   (c) reversibly immobilizing the particle within the flow-through chamber.   
     
     
         14 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A component for use in a fluidic sorting system, the component comprising:
 a flow-through chamber configured to receive a particle in a fluid stream from a catcher tube; and   an immobilization subcomponent configured to reversibly immobilize the particle within the flow-through chamber cell.   
     
     
         21 . The component according to  claim 20 , wherein the immobilization subcomponent comprises a magnetic field generator. 
     
     
         22 . The component according to  claim 21 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         23 . The component according to  claim 21 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises an electromagnet. 
     
     
         24 . The component according to  claim 20 , further comprising an analysis subcomponent configured to analyze the particle immobilized within the flow-through chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The component according to  claim 24 , wherein the analysis subcomponent comprises a microscope. 
     
     
         26 . The component according to  25 , wherein the microscope is selected from the group consisting of: a conventional microscope, a fluorescence microscope, a confocal microscope, and a laser scanning microscope. 
     
     
         27 . The component according to  claim 20 , wherein the flow-through chamber comprises a flow-through optical cuvette. 
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled)